US10915039B2ActiveUtilityPatentIndex 62

Powder container and image forming apparatus

Assignee: RICOH CO LTDPriority: Nov 25, 2011Filed: Dec 22, 2019Granted: Feb 9, 2021

Est. expiryNov 25, 2031(~5.4 yrs left)· nominal 20-yr term from priority

Inventors:HOSOKAWA HIROSHI KATO SHUNJI TAMAKI SHINJI IKEGUCHI HIROSHI TERAZAWA SEIJI YAMABE JUNJI MITSUISHI KAORI TOMOTAKA TOSHIHIDE WATANABE TSUNEHIRO KIKUCHI KENJI

G03G 2215/0697G03G 2215/0668G03G 15/0877G03G 15/0863G03G 15/0872G03G 15/08G03G 15/0865G03G 15/0886

PatentIndex Score

Cited by

245

References

Claims

Abstract

A powder conveying device includes: a conveying nozzle, provided with a powder receiving opening; an open/close member to open/close the powder receiving opening; a flange provided to the open/close member; a biasing member to bias the open/close member; and a container setting section to which a part of a powder container is to be fit. The powder container includes: a conveyor to convey the powder from a second end of the powder container to a first end; a container opening protruding from the first end; a nozzle receiving opening into which the conveying nozzle is to be inserted; and a butting portion provided in the container opening, to butt against the flange. When the powder container is attached to the powder conveying device, the container opening is fitted to the container setting section, and the flange and the biasing member are housed in an inner space of the container opening.

Claims

exact text as granted — not AI-modified

What is claimed is: 
     
       1. A cap for attachment to a powder container,
 the powder container which is removably attachable to a powder conveyor and containing powder, 
 the powder container including
 a powder container opening at an end of the powder container, 
 a nozzle receiving opening, at the powder container opening, to receive a conveying nozzle of the powder conveyor, and 
 a container shutter to open and close the nozzle receiving opening, 
 
 the cap comprising: 
 a protrusion on the cap to face the nozzle receiving opening, at least a part of an end surface of the protrusion contacting an end surface of the container shutter. 
 
     
     
       2. The cap according to  claim 1 , wherein:
 the powder container includes a container seal at the powder container opening, and 
 the end surface of the protrusion contacts the end surface of the container shutter and an end surface of the container seal so as to bridge a boundary between the container shutter and the container seal. 
 
     
     
       3. The cap according to  claim 1 , wherein:
 the end surface of the protrusion has a circular shape with a diameter greater than a diameter of the end surface of the container shutter. 
 
     
     
       4. The cap according to  claim 2 , wherein:
 the end surface of the protrusion has a circular shape with a diameter greater than a diameter of the end surface of the container shutter. 
 
     
     
       5. The cap according to  claim 2 , wherein:
 the end surface of the protrusion has a circular shape with a diameter smaller than an annular outer circumference of the container seal. 
 
     
     
       6. The cap according to  claim 3 , wherein:
 the powder container includes a container seal at the powder container opening, 
 the end surface of the protrusion contacts the end surface of the container shutter and an end surface of the container seal so as to bridge a boundary between the container shutter and the container seal, and 
 the end surface of the protrusion has a circular shape with a diameter smaller than an annular outer circumference of the container seal. 
 
     
     
       7. The cap according to  claim 1 , wherein:
 the protrusion includes a material different from a material of a main body of the cap. 
 
     
     
       8. The cap according to  claim 2 , wherein:
 the protrusion includes a material different from a material of a main body of the cap. 
 
     
     
       9. The cap according to  claim 1 , wherein:
 the protrusion is formed integrally with a main body of the cap. 
 
     
     
       10. The cap according to  claim 2 , wherein:
 the protrusion is formed integrally with a main body of the cap. 
 
     
     
       11. The cap according to  claim 1 , further comprising:
 an elastic material on the end surface of the protrusion. 
 
     
     
       12. The cap according to  claim 2 , further comprising:
 an elastic material on the end surface of the protrusion. 
 
     
     
       13. The cap according to  claim 1 , further comprising:
 an absorbent arranged inside the protrusion so as to be open to an exterior of the cap and an exterior of the powder container. 
 
     
     
       14. The cap according to  claim 2 , further comprising:
 an absorbent arranged inside the protrusion so as to be open to an exterior of the cap and an exterior of the powder container. 
 
     
     
       15. The cap according to  claim 1 , wherein:
 when the powder container is attached to the powder conveyor, the cap is detached from the powder container. 
 
     
     
       16. A powder container for use with a powder conveyor, the powder container comprising:
 a powder container opening at an end of the powder container; 
 a nozzle receiving opening, at the powder container opening, to receive a conveying nozzle of the powder conveyor; 
 a container shutter to open and close the nozzle receiving opening; 
 a cap including a protrusion on the cap to face the nozzle receiving opening, at least a part of an end surface of the protrusion contacting an end surface of the container shutter. 
 
     
     
       17. The powder container according to  claim 16 , further comprising:
 a container seal at the powder container opening, 
 wherein the end surface of the protrusion contacts the end surface of the container shutter and an end surface of the container seal so as to bridge a boundary between the container shutter and the container seal. 
 
     
     
       18. The powder container according to  claim 16 , wherein:
 the end surface of the protrusion has a circular shape with a diameter greater than a diameter of the end surface of the container shutter. 
 
     
     
       19. The powder container according to  claim 17 , wherein:
 the end surface of the protrusion has a circular shape with a diameter smaller than an annular outer circumference of the container seal. 
 
     
     
       20. The powder container according to  claim 16 , wherein:
 the protrusion includes a material different from a material of a main body of the cap. 
 
     
     
       21. The powder container according to  claim 16 , wherein:
 the protrusion is formed integrally with a main body of the cap.

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